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Fundamentalism and Evangelicals

Harriet A Harris author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Published:11th Jun '98

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Fundamentalism and Evangelicals cover

This study examines the contentious claim that much evangelicalism is fundamentalist in character. Within Protestantism, the term `fundamentalism' denotes not only a movement but also a mentality which has greatly affected evangelicals, and which involves preserving as factual a reading of scripture as possible. Here the development and dismantling of the fundamentalist mentality is examined in light of philosophical influences upon evangelicalism over the last three centuries, notably: Common Sense Realism, neo-Calvinism, and modern hermeneutical philosophy. Particular attention is paid to James Barr's critique of fundamentalism and to evangelical rejoinders. Harriet A. Harris proposes that the fundamentalist mentality does not do justice to evangelical experience since it is more concerned with the Bible's factual truthfulness than with its life-giving effects. An appendix on Global Fundamentalism brings together two rarely united fields of study: Protestant fundamentalism's relation to evangelicalism, and its relation to resurgent movements in other religions.

Harris's volume is a useful assessment of the options and weaknesses facing evangelicals in the present time. * Brethren Archivists & Historians Network Review *
Harris has written a brilliantly distinguished book, deeply informative and incisively argued. It stands head and shoulders above the general run of literature about fundamentalism...She shows a quite exceptionally detailed knowledge of evangelical and fundamentalist thinking, personalities and literature, and the perspective is very up to date ... Her arguments are clear and powerful; where she differs from my own past judgements, I generally accept her correction. * James Barr, Journal of Theological Studies *
All evangelicals who care about their faith, and who believe it to be true, should read this book and grapple with the issues which it raises. It is not by any means the last word on the subject, but it surely deserves to become the first word in a new debate about who we Evangelicals are and where we are going. * Gerald Bray, Churchman *
Arguments and theories are largely presented in the words of their exponents, and often commented on with refreshing lucidity, revealing a masterly freedom of acquaintance ... Definitely not for the faint-hearted; but to the persistent, enormously rewarding. * John Peck, Christianity and Society *
Harriet Harris' thoughtful study ... well repays the close reading its weighty argument deserves. * Mark Noll, Books and Culture *
[Harris] handles an astonishing variety of material - historical, theological, and philosophical - in a scholarly and judicious manner. * Scottish Bulletin of Evangelical Theory *
meticulous and wide-ranging research, imaginative and resourceful analysis and tidy and adroit argumentation * Sathianathan Clarke, Scottish Journal of Theology *

ISBN: 9780198269601

Dimensions: 225mm x 144mm x 28mm

Weight: 626g

392 pages